With the latest season of Survivor captivating audiences once again, all eyes are on Jeff Probst, the beloved host who has become synonymous with the show since its inception in 2000. While fans admire his charisma and skillful hosting, many are unaware of his personal life, particularly his relationships.
Apparently, when Jeff Probst entered the world of Survivor in 2000, he was married to his first wife, Shelly Wright in 1996. However, unlike his television show spanning 47 seasons, the reality TV star’s marriage did not survive, as Probst and Wright divorced just a year after he began filming. Thereafter, Probst had a few relationships until he eventually married once again in 2011.
Who is Jeff Probst’s First Wife?
When Jeff Probst entered the world of the CBS reality TV show Survivor, as a host in 2000, he was already a married man. Prior to becoming a household name, Probst was married to his first wife, Shelly Wright since 1996. Unlike Probst, Wright pursued a much different path—she happened to be a Tennessee-based therapist who specialized in trauma, depression, anxiety, and PTSD (via Psychology Today).
In 1996—the year Shelly Wright got married to Jeff Probst, she started working as the State Victims Services Director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. She occupied that role for eight years. Apart from her social work for MADD, Wright later joined the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center in 2006, as clinical supervisor, clinical director, and s*xual assault therapist.
Jeff Probst and Shelly Wright’s Brief Married Life
However, despite Jeff Probst and Shelly Wright’s success at their respective workplace, the duo failed to carry on their marriage. Tied the knot in 1996, their marriage came at a time when Probst was just beginning to rise to fame, stepping into the role that would define his career. And although Wright played a supportive role in his early endeavors, their paths gradually began to diverge.
Probst and Wright’s marriage was relatively short-lived, lasting just a year after Survivor premiered. Perhaps the pressures of sudden fame and the demands of the show took a toll on their relationship, leading to their divorce in 2001. But, despite their split, they have stayed tight-lipped about their relationship history. The couple reportedly didn’t share any kids.
Jeff Probst’s Relationship with Survivor Contestant
Following his divorce from Shelly Wright, Jeff Probst navigated the dating scene with his notable relationship with a Survivor contestant. According to reports from People, Probst was linked to the former reality TV participant Julie Berry, from 2004 to 2008. Although the relationship didn’t last, much like his first marriage, it sparked considerable headlines.
Nobody is more surprised than me that I could find my love affair on a show that I host, but the truth is when something like this gets dropped in your lap, you don’t look at how it’s wrapped, you don’t look at how it’s being delivered. You just put your arms around it and you hold on because this is my love affair and there’s no question in my mind about it. Probst shared.
Although Jeff Probst’s romance with the Survivor contestant on Season 9, Julie Berry, provided a glimpse into the Emmy winner’s evolving perspective on love and commitment, it ended within a few years leaving fans heartbroken for the host. Berry went on to work as a story assistant and producer on shows like Dancing With the Stars and The Bachelor, while Probst continued his CBS show.
Jeff Probst Had More Luck With His Second Wife
Thereafter, as two of his previous relationships faded into the background, Jeff Probst resurfaced in the limelight as he began making romantic headlines, once again, with a former model and actress Lisa Ann Russell. Meeting at Survivor producer Mark Burnett‘s Christmas party, Probst and Russell hit it off immediately, given their shared love for reality TV (via People).
Soon, Jeff Probst tied the knot with Lisa Ann Russell in an intimate backyard wedding, in December 2011 and became a devoted husband and a beloved stepdad to her two kids, Michael and Ava. Russell was previously married to actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar since August 1996—with whom she shared her children—until their separation in June 2010.
Meanwhile, Probst and Russell’s connection flourished, and they found a balance between their personal and professional lives. This marriage marked a new chapter for Probst, who seemed to have finally found his partner in crime. Unlike his previous marriage and relationship, the host’s association with Lisa Ann Russell survived over a decade through the highs and lows of fame and personal growth.
